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November 21, 2016

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, it certainly has been a time for all of us to catch our breath. I had a conversation with a colleague who does neural programming and we were talking about the process of healing with that model. What they do is *map* the electrical impulses of the brain and then use the map to determine a strategy for healing. The key things are the *mapping* process itself starts to create change, just by paying attention. And the design works by going to the most stable points and working with them. So it means avoiding the points in chaos and gently working from stability. This made me think about my own intuition..and what I have been doing.

So the *mapping* for me comes with an attentive return to my journal, no surprise there. I know that in times of crisis, I revert to not enough, and wonky timing. So I am doing a lot more planning. And I am writing things down carefully, and when I can't write, I take a picture with my phone.

Then I go to the stable points in my life...making sure the dishes are done and the sink is clean and shiny before I go to bed. I vacuum the dog hair, fold the laundry carefully, and meditate morning and evening even if it is as simple as quieting my *list making* mind for 15 minutes. I go to a 12-step meeting almost every day, I text and laugh with friends and family. And I decided to stop reading FB unless I am on the Radiant Recovery page. I bookmarked the government pages for my senators and representatives and am letting them know my thoughts on things that are happening.

So I am doing the food, and doing life without fear. And I am doing joy dots every day. It is helping.

A few reminders. Don't forget the early bird special for the Spring Radiant Ranch here in New Mexico this May.

If you are feeling stressed or stuck with your food program, check out the option of doing a consultation. Making a 90-day commitment certainly has been a mighty tool for some of you. I am more than happy to talk with you about whether I think it would be a timely choice.

The Radiant Reflections class is going on and you are welcome to join us at any time.

And, finally, and not least, we will be using a new format for the newsletter next week. So plan for that change so you won't be surprised when it arrives.

This class will begin Friday, November 25, 2016. Please Signup and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Fat Terror

I am starting this class the day after Thanksgiving because I KNOW this is the time of year that *fat terror* raises its powerful little voice. Most often we have just given up this time of year and figured we would do our diet thing on January First. I am thinking that right now is a very good time to reflect on the feelings, and get a head start.

This is a special class for members of the Radiant Recovery Community who are very concerned about their weight. This will address the feelings and fear you have about your weight and doing the program. Now, this is NOT just for people who are overweight. Sometimes *fat terror* is far more prevalent in people who are slim. So we are gonna work on both sides of the equation.
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This class will begin Wednesday, November 30 , 2016. Please Signup and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Beta Endorphin

Learn how this chemical affects your self-esteem and why your capacity to cope may be directly related to your beta endorphin levels. A fascinating look at the part of the story that is most crucial to sugar sensitivity.
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Check the class list page for more information on how the classes work. See the the Class Schedule here.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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**Quote From Kathleen**


When you eat according to your food plan, you will have a solid sense of self-esteem that comes from biochemical balance, clarity, and well-being.

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**Testimonial of the Week**


I've been thinking about how Radiant Recovery gives us so much, like the ability to find joy in even the simplest things. As well as running outside this morning, catching snowflakes and listening to the wonderful snowy silence, I was struck by the thought just now of how pleasurable it is not to have to peel potatoes any more!

And, yes, that means I'm actually doing some cooking!

What simple joyful things are you all doing today?

Jenny

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**Radiant Ambassadors**



Have you ventured over to Facebook and discovered the Radiant Recovery group yet?

It looks like word is getting out (grin)! People are joining the group on a daily basis and at the time of writing there are now 1,431 members. Some members are even recommending the group to their friends who are now trying the program for the very first time! Exciting times!

If you catch up with friends on Facebook, why don't you come on over and hang out!

Selena


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**Radiant Recovery® Store**


I know a lot of you are making travel plans for the holidays. Here are two great suggestions:

Get a little travel mixing bottle. We have been getting awesome reports back from the people who have them. You don't need batteries, they really mix well and are very lightweight.


And if you are going on a plane, make sure to take pycnogenol. One of the things it is most noted for is its protective effect on DVT (deep vein thrombosis - blood clots from sitting in a plane for a long time). This effect has been tested in a number of peer-reviewed studies in major journals. Kathleen highly recommends it for that purpose.


Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

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**Radiant Kitchen**


Here is a nice recipe from Naomi. With the weather turning cooler, this recipe caught my eye and I fiddled around with it and took out the sugar and adjusted the apple cider amount and here we have a program friendly and belly warming meal. You can use the yummy wild rice from the store.

Chicken and Apples

  • 12 chicken thighs, bone-in
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 granny smith apples, sliced
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1 large sweet onion, roughly chopped.
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 4 springs fresh thyme
  • 4 bay leaves
  • saffron, generous pinch
  • sea salt, to taste
  • ground pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups cooked wild rice
Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, and brown on skin side only in a hot, large, deep saucepan. Remove and set aside. Sweat* off onion, garlic and fennel in the same pan. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add apple juice and return to a boil. Stir in apples, thyme, bay leaves and saffron. Return chicken to the pan. Simmer, cover and cook until chicken is done (approximately 20 minutes) or alternately bake, covered, in a 350 F oven until chicken is done. Season to taste. Serve over rice.

*When I altered this recipe to be program friendly I had no idea what "sweat off" meant. So, I looked it up and here is the definition: a technique by which ingredients, particularly vegetables, are cooked in a small amount of fat over low heat. The ingredients are covered directly with a piece of foil or parchment paper, then the pot is tightly covered. With this method, the ingredients soften without browning, and cook in their own juices.
For great program-friendly recipes, check out our Cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site.

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**Radiant Your Last Diet**


Your Last Diet If losing weight is part of your story, joining YLD can significantly enhance your experience of the steps. We can give you guidance and context for how to prepare for weight loss, how to heal all the years of yo-you dieting, and most important, help you heal the sugar addiction that got you into trouble in the first place. YLD is not a quick fix, nor is it glamorous, but it is a fantastic tool unlike anything else you have ever tried. And you get to have a weekly real-time chat with Kathleen. Chats are scheduled twice a week to accommodate those in the UK and Europe and those in the USA and down under. Everyone LOVES chats!

And if you don't need to lose weight but are scared about gaining weight, we have a place for you as well. :) It has been amazing for us to discover the power of *fat terror* in slender people.

If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here

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**Radiant Living**


Radiant Living is a special group of people who are learning to live without fear or struggle. We meet weekly with Kathleen and learn how to do life after addiction. Once we take out the *painkillers* we have to learn a different way of being in the world. The Chats motivate us and the sharing with people who *get it* is incredibly supportive. We figured out the price of this opportunity is LESS THAN the cost of a cup of coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Maybe we should call this option *Tea with Kathleen.* At any rate, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed by world events these day, came share tea and joy dots with us.

If you would like to join us in Radiant Living, come find us here

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**Coming Back to Gratitude**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



It is November. I am sitting on my bed reading. The mountains sit with their purple shimmering in the early light. The cottonwoods have gone from bright yellow to dusky yellow-brown. I hear the Sand Hill cranes overhead. The Halloween pumpkins are sitting with wilted smiles.

This time of year can bring conflicted feelings. Thanksgiving is a funny time. It is shaped by Norman Rockwell and memories from Grandma's house. Inside we hold pictures of what we think Thanksgiving should be. But often there is a gap between our imagined ideal and what really happens. It's funny, but most people do not speak about what really happens on Thanksgiving. Uncle George gets drunk or Mom makes one of those comments like, *Um, gained a little this year, yes?* Or stress overcomes enjoyment. All the old *have to* messages start singing.

And this year, of course, may heighten for those living in the US.

I have learned that we can change the stress and create something that comes very close to the ideal in our heart. Let me share this system:

  1. Write out all the stressors you have about Thanksgiving. List every one. Be very detailed and concrete. Write everything, every detail. Set this list aside for a day.

  2. . Write out all the wishes, hopes and dreams you have for a perfect Thanksgiving. List everything you want regardless of time, money or distance. Be very concrete and specific. Set this list aside for a day.

  3. Go back to your ideal list and pick out what it is that is embedded in those items. See if you can find the themes, particularly the emotional themes that have the most meaning for you. What is it that you are really, really wanting? You might be surprised. I love having a day to use my grandmother's silver, to have a day of sharing and reflecting on gratitude. I love ritual and cooking. I love the smells and having candles. I love chicken and love our cranberry chutney (in the recipes section).

Now, I want you to imagine that you can reframe your day into a day that perfectly suits you. You do not *have to* do anything defined by anyone else. No matter how it has been in the past, no matter what kind of comments anyone makes, you can change the day to work for you. It is true that you cannot control Uncle George, and your Mom may comment on your weight again, but you can choose to not go. You can be alone, you can invite your own friends, you can go to a shelter, you can skip the whole thing and go to a movie, you can eat pizza and watch the game. You are not a victim, but you are a person with a clear sense of self. You can choose your gratitude.

And I want to invite you to come over to the forum and talk about this. We have been doing it in the Thanksgiving class. It is a profound thing to start imagining that you do have a choice...It opens up so many possibilities, Come play with us on this.

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Thanks for reading! If you know someone who could benefit from this, feel free to forward it to them.

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Until next time!
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©2016 Kathleen DesMaisons. All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered, use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®", and notify kathleen@radiantrecovery.com of the location. Please visit the Radiant Recovery® website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

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